Horse-weight.



PATBNTED SEPT. 26, 1905. T. BBLLSTBDT. 110m WEIGHT.

APPLICATION FILED 001. 16, 1904.

UNITED STATES PATENT orrron.

THEODORE BELLSTEDT, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

' i i Hones-WEIGHT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 26,-1905.

Application filed October 15, 1904:. Serial No. 228,551.

v a weight which will upon a pulling strain exerted thereon hold to the surface o-fsthe street or pavement by suction, or, rather, hold thereto by reason of a vacuum formed due to such pulling strain.

To comprehend the invention, reference should be had to the accompanying sheet of drawings, wherein Figure 1 isa vertical sectional view of the weight, said view disclosing the position of the cup-valve or plunger, the stem therefor, the lever-arm for actuating the same, and the compression-spring, said parts being illustrated in their normal position or the position occupied thereby when the weight is free to be raised from the ground; and Fig. 2 is a top plan View of the weight, the cover or cap thereof being partly broken away.

In the drawings the numeral 1 is used to indicate a metallic ring, band, or shell, which is formed with a smooth interior bore. This band, ring, or shell is approximately three and one-half inches in height by about one inch in thickness, the interior diameter thereof being about six inches. It will be understood that the size given may be varied in accordance to theweight required; but practice has demonstrated that the mentioned size is practical for all purposes.

Within the ring, band, or shell 1 is fitted the vertically movable leather cup shaped valve or plunger 2,'which is held down by the tension of the spring 3. It will be understood that the cup-shaped valve or plungerfits snugly within the ring or band 1, it resting when in v its lowermost position on the inner circular flange or-shoulder 4 of the ring or band. I

Through the cup-shaped valve or plunger 2 extends the lower screw-threaded end of the valve or plunger-stem 5, which stem also extends through the washer 6, resting on the upper face of the valve or plunger and through the supporting circular plate or disk 7, which bears against the under face thereof, said washer and plate'or disk being held in place by means of the securing-nuts 8 8, which bear,

respectively, against the washer 6 and the plate or disk 7.

The compression-spring 3 surrounds the stem 5 and bears upon the upper face of the valve or plunger2 and the under face ofthe circular cap or cover 9, which 'cap or cover closes the upper end of the ring, band, or

shell 1, being united thereto bythe screws 9.

Through a central guide-opening 10, formed in the 'cap'or cover 9 extends the stem 5, said' stem also fitting loosely through an enlargeolopening 11 in the lever-arm 12, said arm being held against removal by reason of the enlarged head 12', with which-the stem 5 is provided.

The inner end 13 of ,the=lever-arm is bent downward at an inclination so as to bear onto the upperface of the cap or cover 9, while its outer end portion 13 is. prefera'blyturneol' down ward so as to partly embrace the ring or band 1, its end terminating in a ring-opening 14 to receive a snap-hook 15, attached to one end'of a'hitching-strap 15'. By the form of connection between the lever-arm 12 and the projecting end of the stem 5 the said arm is free to revolve or turn about the said stem.

To the bottom edge of the ring, band, or shell 1 is attached a rubber ring-washer 16, which is slightly wider than the thickness of the ring, band, or shell 1 and is held firmly in'place by means of the steel ring 16, which is connected to the circular shoulder 4 of the ring, band, or shell 1 by the screws 17. Y

Preferably the ring-washer 16 is made of pure rubber, so that the same may readily give ,to inequalities of the sidewalk or street on which the same is placed or rests.

To prevent the stem 5 being moved upward beyonda given distance, there is secured thereon a collar 17 which collar when the valve or plunger 2 has moved upward its full distance bears against'the under'face of the top or cover 9.

The least pulling strain exerted on the hitching-strap 15 lifts the lever-arm 12, which imparts vertical movement to the stem 5 proportionately to theistrain exerted onto the saidlever-arm 12. V

. The described weightoperates in the following manner: The same is placed in an upright position with its rubber ring-washer 16 resting firmly on the ground,"the horse being connected to the weight by means of the hitcl-1ing-strap 15, which is attached to the lower end of the lever-arm. The horse being thus secured it is obvious that any pulling strain exerted thereby will serve to lift the lower end of the lever-arm, causing its inner end to bear down onto the cap or cover-plate 9 and upward onto the head of the stem 5, causing the said stem to move outward from within the ring, band, or shell 1. This movement of the stem raises the cup-valve or plunger 2 within the ring, band, or shell or away from the surface of the street or pavement. the result being to exhaust the air immediately beneath the upwardly-moved cup-valve or plunger, causing a vacuum in the full area thus formed, which serves to draw the weight, or, rather, the ring, band, or shell firmly down to the surface of the street or pavement, the inequalities of which are compensated for by the soft-rubber ring-washer 16. The weight will thus hold against all pulling strains or until the vacuum formed within the ring, band, or shell be destroyed, for the greater the strain exerted onto the leverarm the firmer is the weight held down to the surface of the street or pavement.

To release the weight, it is only required to tilt the same sidewise until one edge portion thereof is raised, when the vacuum will be destroyed and the weight free to be lifted clear of the ground. The moment the vacuum is destroyed the cup-valve or plunger is immediately restored to its normal position or moved downward by the pressure of the spring 3.

A hitching-weight thus constructed will be found exceedingly lightto handle in comparison to the ordinary solid iron weights used for the holding of horses, while serving as an efi fective device to secure a horse.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new, and desired to be protected by Letters Patent, is

l. A weight for the described purpose, the same comprising a shell having a closed upper end, a packing-ring secured to its lower end, a spring-held valve or plunger located within the shell, a stem extending therefrom passing through and projecting beyond the closed end of the shell, said stem upon a pulling strain exerted thereon serving to raise the valve or plunger within the shell.

2. A weight for the described purpose, the same comprising a shell having a closed upper end, a packing-ring secured to the lower end thereof, a spring-held valve or plunger located within the shell, a stem extending therefrom passing through and projecting beyond the closed end of the shell, and a lever-arm for exerting an upward pressure onto the stem to raise the valve or plunger upon a pulling strain being exerted thereon.

3. In a weight for the described purpose, the combination with the shell, of a alve or plunger arranged therein, of means for raising the valve or plunger to create a vacuum within the shell beneath the valve or plunger upon a pulling strain being exerted on the weight, and a spring interposed within the shell for returning the valve or plunger to its normal position upon the vacuum being destroyed.

In witness whereof l have hereunto set my hand.

THEODORE B ELLSTE DT.

itnesses:

N. A. Aeunn, D. B. Ricimnns. 

